5 Signs You’re Dehydrated

Picture a tall glass of icy-cold, refreshing water. Imagine a detailed image of it in your mind’s eye. Does the thought make you thirsty? If so, it’s likely you’re not drinking enough water. That’s because thirst is an early indicator of dehydration.

Too often we unintentionally ignore thirst. With our fast-paced and busy lifestyle we often don’t realize we’re thirsty until severe dehydration hits.

To make matters worse, a lot of people try to quench their thirst with soda or other sugary drinks which only causes the body to lose more water.

The result is chronic dehydration.

Over time, this can lead to a wide range of symptoms that can make life downright miserable.

Here are five surprising signs that you may be chronically dehydrated and need to reach for a few more glasses of H20 every day.

4. Weight Gain

Thirst can be easily mistaken for hunger. Sometimes when you’re slightly dehydrated, your body will make you feel hungry instead of thirsty.

It’s a fiendish trick that can result in constant overeating which, of course, leads to weight gain.

“People just think that when they start to get a little weak or they have a headache, they need to eat something, but most often they need to drink [water],” said Grace Webb, Assistant Director for the Clinical Nutrition at New York Hospital.

Drinking more water can help you feel full more often, which in turn can result in better eating habits.

To distinguish the difference between real hunger and thirst, drink a glass of water before you raid the pantry for a snack. If the hunger pangs subside after a few minutes, you’ll know it was just thirst playing a trick on you.

Make Sure Your Water is Toxin-Free

With busy lifestyles, it’s easy to forget about the simple things that make a big impact on our everyday life.

It’s possible you can significantly improve your life just by drinking a few more glasses of H20 every day.

To reap all the health benefits, make sure the water you drink is free of toxins that can harm your health. Lead, mercury and pesticides are commonly found in water supplies so filtered water is a must to feel your best.